[Verse 1] August twenty-third, twenty twenty-four The day the good Lord handed me a little something more Tiny hands, those curious eyes, my whole world rearranged They named him Ryder, and from that hour everything has changed At one you sat and watched the screen Doggyland was all you’d know Puppy songs and silly dogs The way your little face would glow You’d clap and point and laugh out loud Like nothing else could do My sweet one-year-old boy Already teaching me what’s true [Chorus] Ryder, right by my side Ryder, you’re my pride Poppa’s boy, stay close to me Right where you ought to be Ryder, little shadow Ryder, my best day My heart’s right where you stay [Verse 2] Now you’re two and right beside me Attached right to my hip My best friend in this whole wide world Every smile, every trip You love the trucks and all the trains The way they roll on by But nothing beats just lying here Your head against my side You point at every big old truck That rumbles down the road You light up when you hear a train Like it’s a story being told Then you climb up on the tractor Your small hand reaching for mine We ride so slow around the yard And for a while the world’s just fine [Pre-Chorus] When the engine’s quiet And the sun starts sinking low You don’t ask for much of anything You just want me to know [Chorus] Ryder, right by my side Ryder, you’re my pride Poppa’s boy, stay close to me Right where you ought to be Ryder, little shadow Ryder, my best day My heart’s right where you stay [Bridge] You crawl up close and settle in No words, no fuss, no race Just you and me and quiet breathing My favorite kind of place From Doggyland to diesel dreams You’ve grown so much, so fast But the way you hold onto me I pray that feeling lasts [Final Chorus] Ryder, right by my side Ryder, you’re my pride Poppa’s boy, stay close to me Right where you ought to be Ryder, little shadow Ryder, my best day My heart’s right where you stay So keep on riding with your Poppa Keep on lying by my side You’re my best friend, little Ryder And I’m so glad you’re mine
